By Children’s Librarian Shelley Harris
Happy Autism Acceptance Month! In the past, we’ve shared information about:
- Celebrating autism pride.
- Neuro-affirming resources for autistic people and their caregivers.
- Why many autistic people prefer to celebrate autistic acceptance over awareness.
- Our social narrative about visiting the Main Library.
This year, let’s talk about misconceptions about autism and autistic people. I know so many autistic adults who have felt gaslit their entire lives, their needs not only unmet but dismissed. It doesn’t have to be that way!
Autism is a neurodivergence: Autistic brains are wired differently, think differently, and experience and interpret the world differently from neurotypical people. That means that autistic ways of processing and moving through the world aren’t wrong and don’t need to be changed, but need to be understood so the right supports are provided.
How might neurodivergence appear outwardly?
Neurotypical ways of thinking and communicating can look very different from how neurodivergent brains work. It takes time to recognize and understand these differences.
Neurodivergent bids for connection
- Infodumping: sharing a lot of information about a favorite special interest/hyperfixation.
- Pebbling: collecting small items to give to someone they like, to show they were thinking of them.
- Demonstrating empathy: sharing a related experience (to show they heard and understood).
Neurodivergent types of play
- Parallel play: doing activities near someone, not necessarily interacting or speaking with them.
- Sorting: including lining things up and creating patterns.
Executive dysfunction
Executive dysfunction makes it hard to start or complete tasks (even desired ones, like getting ready for the park), especially when there are multiple steps or a possibility of failure.
Neurotypical people often don’t recognize when a task is multistep! For neurodivergent people, brushing teeth can be over a dozen steps. These can include: walking to the bathroom, getting a toothbrush, getting toothpaste, wet brushing, adding toothpaste, putting toothpaste away, putting a brush in the mouth, thinking “How long do I do it?,” wondering “Did I do this side yet?,” spitting, rinsing the brush, rinsing the mouth, putting away the brush, and remembering what to do next. It’s easy to see how neurodivergent people can get distracted with so many transition points!
What to watch & read
Rather than pushing neurodivergent people to hide their traits, everyone can learn about and normalize different ways of communicating, thinking, and learning. Neurodivergent people also can learn how to self-advocate and set boundaries.
Videos to watch
Miss Jenny and I have made videos about helping preschoolers self-advocate and set boundaries, especially before big feelings happen.
Books to read
These books are disability-affirming reads for autistic kids, peers, and caregivers all to enjoy!
- Flap Your Hands: A Celebration of Stimming by Steve Asbell
- This Is How We Play: A Celebration of Disability and Adaptation by Jessica Slice and Caroline Cupp
- Too Sticky by Jen Malia
- Ways to Play by Lyn Miller-Lachmann
- Wiggles, Stomps, and Squeezes: Calming My Jitters at School by Lindsey Parker Rowe
About Shelley
Shelley is a children’s librarian with a passion for early literacy, serving and celebrating the disability community, and exploring technology. She can often be found practicing storytime songs with her black lab, Bingo.
